22,000 Babies Born in August 'All-Time Low'... Natural Population Decline Continues for 22 Months

August Population Trends: Number of Births Declines for 69 Consecutive Months Year-on-Year
Natural Population Decrease of 3,530 People... August Births Hit Record Low

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The number of births in August has once again hit a record low. With natural population decline continuing for 22 consecutive months, the 'population cliff' is becoming increasingly severe. The number of marriages in August also recorded the lowest figure for the same month on record.

According to the population trends for August announced by Statistics Korea on the 27th, the number of births was 22,291, a 0.5% (111) decrease compared to the same month last year. The number of births in August was the lowest since statistics began in 1981. The monthly number of births has decreased compared to the same month of the previous year for 69 consecutive months since December 2015.

The cumulative number of births from January to August was 181,560, down 3.0% (5,699) from the same period last year. Accordingly, the annual number of births is expected to remain in the 200,000 range. Last year, the number of births reached 272,337, marking the first time it fell into the 200,000 range, and it is highly likely to remain in the 200,000 range for the second consecutive year.

The number of deaths during the same period increased by 2.1% (532) to 25,821, the highest since statistics began in 1983. With births decreasing and deaths increasing, the natural population increase, calculated by subtracting deaths from births, recorded a negative (-) 3,530. This decline has continued for 22 months since November 2019. The cumulative natural population decrease from January to August was 22,558, an increase of 56.9% (8,178) compared to the same period last year.

The number of marriages in August was 14,720, down 2.1% (312) compared to the same month last year. The cumulative number of marriages from January to August was 126,724, a 10.4% (14,665) decrease compared to the same period last year. The decline in marriages affects the rising age of first childbirth and the decrease in births.